If I'm used to AF speed of Sigma DP1, probably, speed of this Pentax would be quite OK or even great

Without any firmware update it is ok most of the times in good light but if you come from a Nikod D4, D800 or whatever similar Canon does or even from a K5 it's like going back to driving a Corolla after driving a Porsche. Still I really don't care, "Horses for courses" I guess...

Well, thinking about K-01...I've istD which I generally like so it's not a matter of bare need for me. I've small stash of K-mount glass, but nothing too fancy. Superfast AF isn't required, but I'm uncertain by LCD at daylight as only mean to compose, in this regard istD is troublefree.

I don't see "yellow + 40mm" combos anymore, pity. Do you agree AF 40mm for extra $60 is nobrainer? I could live with black body as I'm not too picky although yellow would help to use it where cameras are divided into fun cams and pro gear. Basically, I'm attracted by current sensor, good battery life and straight K-mount for the price of P&S.

Well, thinking about K-01...I've istD which I generally like so it's not a matter of bare need for me. I've small stash of K-mount glass, but nothing too fancy. Superfast AF isn't required, but I'm uncertain by LCD at daylight as only mean to compose, in this regard istD is troublefree.

I don't see "yellow + 40mm" combos anymore, pity. Do you agree AF 40mm for extra $60 is nobrainer? I could live with black body as I'm not too picky although yellow would help to use it where cameras are divided into fun cams and pro gear. Basically, I'm attracted by current sensor, good battery life and straight K-mount for the price of P&S.

on the other hand rumors about new small full frame Pentax are getting stronger. interesting times

Quote:

Pentax essentially states that they think full-frame is the way to go, and that development of a full-frame camera has been advancing. Wakashiro added that even during Photokina he had mixed feelings about the prospect of making such a camera, but now both he and the company are open to it. The way he phrased this implies that full-frame is about to be a permanent Pentax product line. Although what he said is still subject to interpretation, there is much less uncertainty now than there's ever been before.
Wakashiro also said that while small size is important, the full-frame will also be unique in other ways compared to what's already out there.

I have been eyeing these since first introduced. I've always been a fan of Pentax manual-focus lenses, and even though I donated a bunch away a couple of years ago, I've been interested in getting a new digital Pentax.

So, thanks to _this_ disparaging thread (!) I found the black K-01 with the 40mm lens on Amazon for $429 and bought. I also got a hoodman loupe which if I can attach to the back OK will be a decent viewfinder.

So a few day 3 observations:

it's solid and chunky. fits my sorta large hands well, especially with the 55mm f/1.7 SMC Pentax (no M A, or any other letters following)
I am a big fan of "just a little bit long" lenses, so the 40 and 55 combo is really good for me.
Haven't decided yet if I like the focus peaking for assist.
IQ seems quite good, but I haven't done serious examination yet.
Much faster than the 9 year old sony compact I've been using.
Build quality appears great.
Ugly? Maybe. Mine's not yellow.

Am I offended by the size? probably not. Or only slightly. It might have been really cool if Pentax had created a "micro K" mount like the 4/3 people did. But I bought the thing *primarily to use manual-focus K-mount lenses* so I'm not bothered.

The market success of this beast would indicate that my primary use for this camera is not all that popular.

If any actual users of this thing have read this far and have some tips for useful configuration of the custom modes, or style of using in general that has worked for you with MF lenses, I would love to hear the details!!

I have been eyeing these since first introduced. I've always been a fan of Pentax manual-focus lenses, and even though I donated a bunch away a couple of years ago, I've been interested in getting a new digital Pentax.

So, thanks to _this_ disparaging thread (!) I found the black K-01 with the 40mm lens on Amazon for $429 and bought. I also got a hoodman loupe which if I can attach to the back OK will be a decent viewfinder.

So a few day 3 observations:

it's solid and chunky. fits my sorta large hands well, especially with the 55mm f/1.7 SMC Pentax (no M A, or any other letters following)
I am a big fan of "just a little bit long" lenses, so the 40 and 55 combo is really good for me.
Haven't decided yet if I like the focus peaking for assist.
IQ seems quite good, but I haven't done serious examination yet.
Much faster than the 9 year old sony compact I've been using.
Build quality appears great.
Ugly? Maybe. Mine's not yellow.

Am I offended by the size? probably not. Or only slightly. It might have been really cool if Pentax had created a "micro K" mount like the 4/3 people did. But I bought the thing *primarily to use manual-focus K-mount lenses* so I'm not bothered.

The market success of this beast would indicate that my primary use for this camera is not all that popular.

If any actual users of this thing have read this far and have some tips for useful configuration of the custom modes, or style of using in general that has worked for you with MF lenses, I would love to hear the details!!

--mike

You might consider an FA or F lens to this gives auto-focus but retains the beauty of manual aperture control. I love this especially for flash, a depth of field without fussing with the knob.

I usually use my in manual mode and hit the green button before shooting. I personally don't like some guy in Japan deciding what ISO, f-stop, shutter speed I use. I don't use the SR because I do a lot of tripod shots and I forget to turn it off. It does not have a cable release as all new cameras do I bought a $2.99 (including shipping) remote release. It is good for at least 25 feet.

I had a Leitz accessory viewfinder which I use outside, Mine is permanently (almost) with a 28mm FA Pentax lens.

Above, I love this with flash. It is so easy to use, much easier than my DSLR.

sounds like the pre-A K lenses are possibly the worst choice for use on this body. Even screw mount lenses may work a little better.

fun!

K series lenses work great on the K-01 but you need to know the trick first. Compare the back of an A series or any autofocus lens with your K series lens. Take a small piece of thin tape and cover the portion of the mount on the lens where the contacts would be if your K lens was an A or F/FA series lens.

Now when you mount the lens on the K-01, there is no contact at the pins and the camera thinks you have an m42 lens mounted. The body won't hold the aperture open, allowing you to choose your f stop on the lens body with the camera in Av mode.

The display on the back will brighten itself to compensate as you select smaller apertures. Focus peaking still works and you get to see your dof in real time.

You guys are nuts if you think a digital camera is any different from any other, ugly or not. It's digital. The control is in the software. But, I like my RAW images processed through ColorPerfect better than any other converter (regardless of what digital camera I use). This is straight out of the RAW file in CP:

I usually use my in manual mode and hit the green button before shooting. I personally don't like some guy in Japan deciding what ISO, f-stop, shutter speed I use.

To each his own but I don't understand this line of thinking and I hear similar things all the time. Usually it's someone who thinks shooting their DSLR in manual mode makes them a real photographer because they're making all the decisions.

That isn't you I know but I'm still confused. You're in manual mode, you've selected your ISO in the camera and your aperture on the lens body. Now you hit the green button so some Japanese guy isn't deciding how your photographs look.

The camera is then going to choose the right shutter speed for a proper exposure. Finally you hit the shutter and take your photo. The camera still chose the shutter speed for you. The same speed it would have chosen if you'd just used Av mode with a chosen ISO.

If you still want to be able to use the aperture ring, but not have to hit the green button every time you can use the tape trick I described earlier and cover the contacts on your F 28mm. Then you would have manual aperture control, but without having to hit the green button before every photo.

Also you don't need to keep your shake reduction off in fear of leaving it on while using a tripod. If you use the remote or the self timer the camera automatically turns it off for you. The shake reduction really is quite good on the K-01, useful as well.

To each his own but I don't understand this line of thinking and I hear similar things all the time. Usually it's someone who thinks shooting their DSLR in manual mode makes them a real photographer because they're making all the decisions.

That isn't you I know but I'm still confused. You're in manual mode, you've selected your ISO in the camera and your aperture on the lens body. Now you hit the green button so some Japanese guy isn't deciding how your photographs look.

The camera is then going to choose the right shutter speed for a proper exposure. Finally you hit the shutter and take your photo. The camera still chose the shutter speed for you. The same speed it would have chosen if you'd just used Av mode with a chosen ISO.

If you still want to be able to use the aperture ring, but not have to hit the green button every time you can use the tape trick I described earlier and cover the contacts on your F 28mm. Then you would have manual aperture control, but without having to hit the green button before every photo.

Also you don't need to keep your shake reduction off in fear of leaving it on while using a tripod. If you use the remote or the self timer the camera automatically turns it off for you. The shake reduction really is quite good on the K-01, useful as well.

I hope this info is helpful.

Thanks for that, I didn't know that the SR is off with the remote which I use when doing tripod work. But as I'm mostly a film guy, I have no reason to worry too much about these machinations of digital engineers. As I've said I like Aperture mode, because I have no appetite for action shots. Still this is an easy camera to use with minimal Japanese junk added on (not like my wife's Lexus):

All content on this site is Copyright Protected and owned by its respective owner. You may link to content on this site but you may not reproduce any of it in whole or part without written consent from its owner.